Mourinho praises team’s performance

Chelsea F.C. manager Jose Mourinho praised his team after Sunday’s 3-2 win over West Bromwich Albion.

The entertaining game included a Thibaut Courtois penalty save, a John Terry red card and goals from three Spain internationals.

New signing Pedro opened the scoring at The Hawthorns on 20 minutes before Diego Costa doubled the Blues’ lead just ten minutes later.

Scotland international midfielder James Morrison pulled one back for the hosts before Cesar Azpilicueta gave the reigning English Premier League champions a 3-1 lead at half-time.

Morrison bagged a second just before the hour mark, but Chelsea were able to hold on despite playing the final 36 minutes of the match with 10 men.

“We deserved it,” Mourinho told the Blues’ official website. “It was difficult but we deserved it.

“3-1 was short with 11 against 11, and with the chances we created, the space we found, and the way we attacked their defensive line.

“Then with one player less – we are getting experience of that – we adapted well but they scored to make it 3-2. We had the best chances to score the next goal.

“I’m happy we controlled the game well, and I’m happy with the spirit because the players really wanted to win.”

Man of the Match: Pedro

Pedro, who joined Chelsea from Barcelona in a deal worth €30 million earlier this week, was the Blues’ standout performer after scoring one and setting up another at the Hawthorns on Sunday.

After the game, Mourinho was full of praise for the former Barcelona forward and rightly so.

“He’s a very good player,” added Mourinho. “There is always a question mark because of how many top players come to England and don’t perform immediately.

“We have examples in our club and there are lots of examples at other clubs, so it’s very nice for him to come and straight away perform the way he did.

“I expected him to perform like that because he had a good pre-season, and he played three competitive matches. He came with minutes, with intensity, so it was not a question of intensity and condition, it was a question of understanding.

“We worked tactically every day since he arrived for him to try to understand the team and for the team to try to understand what he wants and needs. It was a very good performance.”

Meanwhile, in other news, the Blues have completed the signing of Brazilian starlet Kenedy from Fluminense for a fee believed to be in the region of £6 million.

Chelsea (1-1-1) are backed by the bookmakers at 7/2 to repeat as Premier League champions this season.

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